Methods

While our focus areas are specified to renewable energy access, water access, and water filtration, the methods we utilize are flexible and sustainable. This is important as it allows us to combine the appropriate technology with the appropriate project. Every project is different and the needs and resources vary accordingly. We try to apply the most cost effective, efficient, and appropriate method possible.

Water Access - Along the Thai/Burma border, there are three seasons; cold, hot, and rainy. During the cold and hot season it rains very little. For example, in Mae Sot Thailand, the historical rainfall average never gets above one inch/per month for November - March. This means that to ensure water access all year and especially during the hot season, we must find a very good water source. Whether its a natural spring, well, or stream, we have to survey the source water during the hot season to make sure there sufficient volume.

Solar Pump - The solar pump is as it sounds, a DC pump connected to a solar array. Depending on the volume of water needed and head (elevation difference between two points of water) we choose the correct pump and accompanying solar array to power it.

Water Filtration - Clean drinking water is essential to any population and methods for producing it vary depending on the situation. Most commonly, people in rural Thailand/Burma have to boil well or stream water to make it drinkable. This not only requires fetching the water, which can be kilometers away, but also collecting firewood to make charcoal to boil it. It is time consuming and can be dangerous if there are landmines or other hazards in close proximity.

Bio-sand/Charcoal - To provide clean drinking water we use a bio-sand/charcoal water filter system designed by AqSolutions. To find out more information about the construction and how it works you can visit them at www.aqsolutions.org. This filtration system is both effective and flexible. It can be designed to provide water to both large and small populations and is cost effective. It uses almost all local materials and filters both biological pathogens and chemical agents.

Power - Power is a utility that drastically changes lives. The majority of rural areas along the Thai/Burma border do not have access to power. Without it, people rely on candles or kerosene lamps for lighting at night. This creates the very real threat of house fires as most houses and dormitories are constructed from bamboo and have leaf roofs. Fires are a common and preventable occurrence. By providing electricity from a solar array, students can study at night and parents do not have to worry about their children knocking over candles or kerosene lamps. Power provides a safe living environment, increased opportunity to study, and increased income generation due to the ability to work at night.

Solar Power - Depending on the needs of the project, we can design a solar system that fits the specific requirements. The basic system is composed of a solar panel, inverter, charge controller, and battery. The system is flexible and can be designed to either only provide lighting or also provide power for electronics.